Mayfly ID central PA April 2022
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pcray1231
Well-known member
Yup. Hendrickson. AKA Ephemerella Subvaria.
Hatching behavior very similar to sulphurs. Swimming nymphs, floating nymphs in the film, emergers, and duns all in play.
Hatching behavior very similar to sulphurs. Swimming nymphs, floating nymphs in the film, emergers, and duns all in play.
tomgamber
Well-known member
Looks like what they called a Mahogany out west.
I am basing this ID on: Hatches II by Caucci and Nastasi; Complete Guide to Eastern Hatches by Tom Fuller; and Pocket Guide to Pennsylvania Hatches by Meck and Weamer.
Last April, late in the month, small wild browns would feed on these insects in this small central PA stream for maybe an hour in the afternoon. I used a size 16 brown spider to catch a few.
Last April, late in the month, small wild browns would feed on these insects in this small central PA stream for maybe an hour in the afternoon. I used a size 16 brown spider to catch a few.
falcon
Well-known member
Paraleps .... Blue Quill.
redietz
Well-known member
The rear wing doesn't look right for that. OTOH, size 16 suits a blue quill better than it does a Hendrickson.
tomgamber
Well-known member
So you disagree but agree?
tomgamber
Well-known member
To be clear, I'm just guessing. I like to play along.
Blue Quill maybe >
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Blue Quills
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pcray1231
Well-known member
Well, they're all brownish mayflies with 3 tails, non mottled wings, and a large hind wing.
A size 16 is small for a hendrickson, large for a blue quill. It's a smallish freestone stream, being on the small side of normal seems more likely, and me personally, without measuring, am more likely to underestimate size (call a 14 a 16, vs. an 18 a 16). Timing fits reasonably well for both, they overlap. All suggestions make sense here, but I'm still leaning hendrickson.
A size 16 is small for a hendrickson, large for a blue quill. It's a smallish freestone stream, being on the small side of normal seems more likely, and me personally, without measuring, am more likely to underestimate size (call a 14 a 16, vs. an 18 a 16). Timing fits reasonably well for both, they overlap. All suggestions make sense here, but I'm still leaning hendrickson.
